NSW · Central Coast (NSW) Council

Narara, NSW, 2250

Desirability index

84.8/100

#136 among Country & regional suburbs

How this score is calculated

Suburb snapshot

Narara is a mid-sized suburb in the Central Coast (NSW) area, home to around 8,471 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 8,261 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with relatively stable year-on-year trends (-4%), roughly 975.2 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $650 (flats $640, houses $690), 3 school and preschool sites in the area, strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a higher concentration of local shops, services, and recreation amenities, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb and hospitals or GP clinics within the suburb.

Population

Population
8,471
Median age
38
Median household income / week
$1,896
Dwelling vacancy
2.9%
Unoccupied private dwellings
89 of 3,062
Median monthly mortgage
$1,950
Employment rate
61.5%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
238 / 351 / 23

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release

    The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Housing

Flats / units (January to March 2026)
$640
Houses (January to March 2026)
$690
All types (January to March 2026)
$650
Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
540

Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.

Data sources & freshness

Crime & safety

Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
8,261
Against the person
1,771
Against property
2,413
Rate per 1,000 residents
975.2
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 5 residents
State safety percentile
33.2th (lower crime is better)
Year-on-year change
-3.8%

Most common offence types

  • Breach Bail Conditions922
  • Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment540
  • Malicious Damage To Property490
  • Steal From Retail Store460
  • Transport Regulatory Offences1947

Data sources & freshness

  • BOCSAR postcode crime statisticsNSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Period: Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows

Schools & preschools

Schools & preschools
3
Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
974
  • Glenvale SchoolSpecial
  • Narara Valley High SchoolSecondary
  • St Philip's Christian College - GosfordCombined

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

124 public transport stops in this suburb

  • CCP Goonak Pde
  • CCP Narara Val Dr
  • Narara Station
  • Narara Station, Narara Valley Dr
  • Narara Valley Dr Opp Narara Station

Data sources & freshness

Planning & development

Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).

259 planning-related records

2026· 20 proposals
  • June 2026

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    23 GUGANDI ROAD NARARA 2250Under Assessment
  • May 2026

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    22 MARRIL ROAD NARARA 2250Under Assessment
  • April 2026

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Garage, carport or carparking space; Rainwater tanks
    11 GUGANDI ROAD NARARA 2250Under Assessment
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    7 CORELLA CRESCENT NARARA 2250Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    17 BOOBOOK RISE NARARA 2250Under Assessment
  • Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    123 CARRINGTON STREET NARARA 2250Determined
  • March 2026

  • Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    3 ARRAWARRA STREET NARARA 2250Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    55 HOLCOMBE AVENUE NARARA 2250Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Carport
    9 GLENWOOD ROAD NARARA 2250Withdrawn
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    8 KINTAY LANE NARARA 2250Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    5 SYNCARPIA CRESCENT NARARA 2250Under Assessment
  • February 2026

  • Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)
    25 Fountains Road, NararaAdditional Information Requested
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    83 DEANE STREET NARARA 2250Additional Information Requested
  • Erection of a new structure; Carport; Manufactured home
    15 BOOBOOK RISE NARARA 2250Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    20 HOLCOMBE AVENUE NARARA 2250Determined
  • Educational establishment; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; School
    2-30 NARARA CREEK ROAD NARARA 2250Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    51 GUGANDI ROAD NARARA 2250Determined
  • January 2026

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
    10 COURALLIE ROAD NARARA 2250Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    10 BOOBOOK RISE NARARA 2250Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home; Non-standard Housing; Residential Accommodation
    53 SYNCARPIA CRESCENT NARARA 2250Determined
2025· 46 proposals
  • December 2025

  • Subdivision
    18 ORCHARD DOWNS ROAD NARARA 2250Additional Information Requested
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    91 DEANE STREET NARARA 2250Determined
  • Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care
    9 GOONAK PARADE NARARA 2250Under Assessment
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    46 YEO STREET NARARA 2250Determined
  • Educational establishment; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; School
    2-30 NARARA CREEK ROAD NARARA 2250Under Assessment
  • Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care
    9 GOONAK PARADE NARARA 2250Determined
  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    4 MANGROVE ROAD NARARA 2250Determined
  • November 2025

  • Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)
    55 SYNCARPIA CRESCENT NARARA 2250Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    1 WAROOKA STREET NARARA 2250Determined
  • Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    30 DEANE STREET NARARA 2250Determined
  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Food and drink premise
    12 CALLISTEMON CLOSE NARARA 2250Under Assessment
  • October 2025

  • Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home
    1 PENLOO CLOSE NARARA 2250Determined
  • Subdivision
    112 REEVES STREET NARARA 2250Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    3 KONINDERIE PARADE NARARA 2250Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport
    65 GILDA DRIVE NARARA 2250Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    5 BALGARA RISE NARARA 2250Determined
  • September 2025

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport
    14 ISABELLA CLOSE NARARA 2250Determined
  • August 2025

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    23 GUGANDI ROAD NARARA 2250Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    4 42 REEVES STREET NARARA 2250Under Assessment
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Landscaping structures
    7 COURALLIE ROAD NARARA 2250Determined
2024· 37 proposals

37 proposals lodged in 2024. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.

2023· 40 proposals

40 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.

2022· 37 proposals

37 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.

2021· 50 proposals

50 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.

2020· 29 proposals

29 proposals lodged in 2020. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

66 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • Bench (22)
  • Bicycle Parking
  • Bike Lockers - Narara Station, Narara Valley DrBicycle Parking
  • Dalmeny Rd at Mangrove RdBus stop
  • Deane St at Hanlan St SouthBus stop
  • Deane St opp Cathy CresBus stop
  • Gilda Dr after Dalmeny RdBus stop
  • Gilda Dr opp Dalmeny RdBus stop
  • Glenvale School, Manns RdBus stop
  • Hanlan St South at Carrington StBus stop

Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap amenitiesOpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Parks & reserves

12 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Apara Close ReservePark
  • Canning ParkPark
  • Carrington Street OvalPark
  • Goonak Parade PlaygroundPark
  • Goonak Parade ReservePark
  • Karina Drive PlaygroundPark
  • Mitchell ParkPark
  • Reeves Street Bush ReservePark
  • Sensory ParkPark
  • Treeline ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Hospitals & GP clinics
1
Emergency department
Not in suburb
  • Narara Valley MedicalNarara Valley Drivedoctor

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
6/10
IRSD decile (2021)
6/10

SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.

Data sources & freshness

Childcare

1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap

  • Narara Preschoolkindergarten

Data sources & freshness

  • Childcare servicesOpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
No overlay at centroid

Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.

Data sources & freshness

  • Hazard planning overlaysState government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
41
Parks (OSM)
12

OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap green cover featuresOpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Desirability index

Desirability score
84.8/100
Cohort rank
#136 among Country & regional suburbs

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability indexSuburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics

Recent changes

  • CCP Goonak Pdetransport
  • CCP Narara Val Drtransport
  • Narara Stationtransport
  • Narara Station, Narara Valley Drtransport
  • Narara Valley Dr Opp Narara Stationtransport
  • Narara Preschoolchildcarekindergarten
  • Narara Valley MedicalhealthNarara Valley Drivedoctor
  • Apara Close Reservegovernmentpark
  • Canning Parkgovernmentpark
  • Carrington Street Ovalgovernmentpark

Data sources & freshness

Similar suburbs

Suburbs with a comparable population profile, socio-economic decile, and location.